Review: The Witching Hour at Bridewell Theatre

The Witching Hour is a ghost story about a haunted woodland house. It turns the theme of The Blair Witch Project on its head, showing patriarchal oppression as the real monster. I went to see the play at Bridewell Theatre earlier this week and found it suitably scary. At points I genuinely jumped out of my seat. It has a great set and is well acted, but what I liked most is the way it tackles the theme of witchcraft accusations

The setting is Torhill Wood, a remote spot in the English countryside with a history of paranormal sightings and missing persons. Twenty-first century psychologist Erin Bailey goes on a research trip to uncover the plight of Elspeth Langford, a young woman from the 1600s. Central to Elspeth’s story is the moment she is tried and killed for being a witch, a scene spectrally re-enacted at the time mentioned in the title. As the press release explains: "Erin and [brother] Sam soon realise their trip to these eerie woods will not pass without their fair share of witchcraft – and murder. Their trip will become a haunting fight for survival."

Why I think modern witches will like The Witching Hour is that it shows how problems prevalent in today’s society reflect those in the historic times of England’s witch trials. Themes include feminism, disbelieved and forgotten women, torture, familial abuse, sexual assault, and bias against certain groups within the justice system.

The Witching Hour is on until Saturday 20 July at Bridewell Theatre, 14 Bride Lane, London EC4Y 8EQ. There's an evening performances on Thursday, with two performances on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are £22.50-£29.50 https://www.thewitchinghourlive.com/

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/03/pagan-eye-plaque-to-those-accused-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/10/pagan-eye-witches-wicked-bodies.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/10/review-penguin-book-of-witches.html

The Burning: Witchcraft at the Edinburgh Fringe

A theatre show heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer takes on the anarchic nature of witches, following the lives of ‘witches’ and their hunters in an epic story through time. It is called The Burning, and here are the details from a press release I was sent:

Good witch. Wicked witch. White Queen. Red Queen. Madonna. Whore. 

Following back-to-back sell out shows, including All Quiet on the Western Front and Tobacco Road, Incognito return, in their award-winning physical style, with a formidable tale of corruption, persecution and roaring rage. The Burning explores the derogatory depictions of women who do not conform, who live on the fringes of society and who challenge established patriarchal structures. It boldly takes on the anarchic nature of witches. 

The Burning follows the lives of ‘witches’ and their hunters in an epic story through time. 

Incognito’s all-female creative team use live music and true historical accounts to breathe life into mysterious fiery worlds. Exposing the effects of capitalism and fear, it interrogates and lacerates the endless female trade-off between goodness and power. 

Unearthing the complexities behind the definition of a ‘witch’, the production goes back to the origins of the word to explore the moments in history that fractured it into the simplistic duality of the fairy tale image – an ugly hag or the puritan image of the hyper-sexualised woman who cavorts with devils. The Burning unapologetically celebrates womanhood, examining our connection to our ancestors in that we must know where we came from to move forward. 

Director Roberta Zuric comments, "It's a joy to be back working with Incognito on a brand new show. It feels like we’re at a global turning point in the way we think about gender and identity, and Incognito's style will bring an interesting and vibrant angle to the conversation. Working with a brilliant all-female team, I'm looking forward to delving deep into and examining our society's relationship and history to the word 'witch'."

The Burning performance dates are Wednesday 31st July to Monday 26 at 3.15pm. It is on at Pleasance Courtyard (Upstairs), 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9TJ. Box Office Tickets cost between £7 and £13 and are available from www.pleasance.co.uk or 0131 556 6550.

Review: Patient 4620 - Horror in Immersive Theatre

I was very lucky to get tickets for the first performance of a new immersive theatre horror production, which is part of the London Lovecraft Festival. It is called Patient 4620.

The premise is that the audience are viewers at an art exhibition showing the work of Gretel Sauerbrot, who was once famous but has not been seen since she was admitted to a psychiatric institution. The exhibition supposedly charts the artist's descent into madness, while an audio guide offers descriptions of her paintings together with an account of her life by her friend and patron.

Yet the audio guide becomes increasingly disturbing while the audience become more and more personally involved - for example, being prompted to start adding to the drawings on display.

I'm not going to give away the twist at the end, but it is suitably horrific.

The production is short - only about half an hour excluding an introduction and instructions on how to use the audio guides - but that's quite enough time to get thoroughly scared. There's also a friendly pub at the end of the road if you feel you need somewhere to steady your nerves before the journey home on a dark night.

Patient 4620 is by Dread Falls Theatre and is directed by Victoria Snaith. It runs until Saturday 9 February at the Royal Museum of Contemporary Art London, in Hoxton. Performances last 45 mins and run at various times each day. Standard tickets are £20. You can find out more and order tickets here: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/London/Royal-Museum-Of-Contemporary-Art/

Links and previous related posts
www.tiny.cc/patientlondonlovecraft
https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/london-lovecraft-festival.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/08/review-father-dagon-immersive-theatre.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/blog-post.html

Event: Patient 4620 - Immersive Horror in London

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you will know I'm a fan of Lovecraftian horror. This February there's a new immersive theatre production in London called Patient 4620, by the people who put on Father Dagon a few years back. Patient 4620 is by Dread Falls Theatre and is premiering as part of London Lovecraft Festival. It is directed by Victoria Snaith

The patient in the title is Gretel Sauerbrot; a once famous artist, admitted to the Raventhorne Institution and then never heard from again. At the Royal Museum of Contemporary Art you can explore and uncover clues to Gretel’s past through a series of audio guides.

The unusual theatre show is a blend of immersive theatre, auditory storytelling, and art installation. To experience Patient 4620 at its fullest, audiences should bring a smartphone or WiFi enabled device, along with a headset, although there are some available for people to borrow on the night if they don't have their own.

Patient 4620 runs from Sunday 3 February to Saturday 9 February at the Royal Museum of Contemporary Art London, in Hoxton. Performances last 45 mins and run at various times each day. Tickets are £20. You can find out more and order tickets here: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/London/Royal-Museum-Of-Contemporary-Art/

Links and previous related posts
www.tiny.cc/patientlondonlovecraft
https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/london-lovecraft-festival.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/08/review-father-dagon-immersive-theatre.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/blog-post.html

News: Witches in Books, Film, TV, Stage & Culture

"From Circe to Clinton: why powerful women are cast as witches" - story at The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/07/cursed-from-circe-to-clinton-why-women-are-cast-as-witches

"Circe, a Vilified Witch From Classical Mythology, Gets Her Own Epic" - a look at the background to a new book, at New York Times (You can view Circe, by Madeline Miller, on Amazon)

"Sesame Studios welcomes The Witch Sisters" - story at Kidscreen: http://kidscreen.com/2018/04/06/sesame-studios-welcomes-the-witch-sisters/

"Why Scarlet Witch Probably Won't Get A Solo Movie, According To Elizabeth Olsen" - story at Cinema Blend: https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2398901/why-scarlet-witch-probably-wont-get-a-solo-movie-according-to-elizabeth-olsen

"Sabrina the Teenage Witch: First image from the Netflix reboot" - story at BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-41349976

"Which witch is best? Wicked is defying gravity and exceeding expectations at Apollo Victoria Threatre" - story at London News Online: https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/which-witch-is-best-wicked-is-defying-gravity-and-exceeding-audience-expectations-at-apollo-victoria-threatre/

"I Thought I Knew What To Expect At A Witchcraft Convention. I Was Wrong" - story at Refinery29: https://www.refinery29.uk/witch-convention-uk

Review: Hammer House of Horror Live in Hoxton

There's a brilliant new immersive horror performance on in Hoxton, London, at the moment. Go and see it if you possibly can. Or better still, go and see it twice - because every experience is guaranteed to be different.

The production is called Hammer House of Horror Live – The Soulless Ones and the adverts describe it as "the first immersive theatre show from the legendary Hammer Films".

Here is more of the description from the venue, Hoxton Hall's, website:

Meet Carmilla, Queen of the Vampires. Immerse yourself in a sensuous, sexy, spine tingling world. Witness the Hoxton Hive of Vampires attempt a bloody ritual that will allow them to appear in the daylight. Experience the unique atmosphere of The Hoxton Hall, one of London’s finest Victorian music halls. Move from dusty vaults, and bewitching opium dens, to bed chambers, and creaking attics. There’s 105 scenes to explore in two hours. Created by some of the most accomplished players in London’s thrilling immersive scene. No two people will have the same experience. But every experience will be unforgettable. The Soulless Ones, from Hammer House of Horror. Don’t dare go alone.

I've been to perambulatory and immersive theatre before - but nothing quite like this. In previous productions of this kind the audience will generally get to see all of the scenes - they might not see them quite in the same order, but they will see them.

In The Soulless Ones you get the chance to follow individual characters and see their story unfold. When I went I mainly followed the tale of a doomed romantic poet, but I could have followed the psychic, the doctor, the newly-created vampire, Carmilla herself or Laura, the vampire Carmilla created in the Gothic novella by Sheridan la Fanu, which predated Dracula by 26 years. (You can view Carmilla on Amazon.)

Having said that, whatever thread you follow, you won't miss the main plot. The audience is carefully drawn together for the pivotal scenes. The vital issues that have drawn the characters together - willingly or unwillingly - are also discussed by each of them before the finale.

And the audience is part of the play too - everyone is given a black cloak to wear and put in character at the very start. Having said that, you won't be required to act in the play - the audience's role is that of witness to an experiment.

Although tickets for the play aren't exactly cheap - £48.50 for Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday nights, £52.50 for Thursday, Friday and Saturday - I am seriously thinking of going again.

Hoxton Hall is at 130 Hoxton St, London N1 6SH. Phone:020 7684 0060. Website: https://www.hoxtonhall.co.uk/

The photos show the outside of Hoxton Hall, a poster for  The Soulless Ones and the front cover of the book Carmilla

Links and previous related posts
https://www.hoxtonhall.co.uk/hammer-house-horror-live/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/08/review-father-dagon-immersive-theatre.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/07/master-of-horror-resurrected-in.html

News: Witchcraft, Theatre, Paganism, Beliefs

"The last woman in Britain jailed for witchcraft could soon be granted a posthumous pardon" - story at the Irish Mirror: http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/world-news/last-woman-britain-jailed-witchcraft-8031962

"Seeking a connection to the earth" - story about modern paganism at Arvada Press: http://arvadapress.com/stories/Seeking-a-connection-to-the-earth,213905

"Woman killed for 'witchcraft', 5 held" - story at the Times of India: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Woman-killed-for-witchcraft-5-held/articleshow/52497510.cms

"Witches and arches: weekend of the arts in Dundee" - story at The Courier: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/entertainment/theatre/180723/witches-and-arches-weekend-of-the-arts-in-dundee/

"Malta: Witchcraft, Magical Spells and Humanism Beliefs" - a story at News Ghana criticising an article on historic witchcraft because it doesn't take into account modern witchcraft beliefs. The piece is rather anti witchcraft, but interesting: https://www.newsghana.com.gh/malta-witchcraft-magical-spells-and-humanist-beliefs/

The picture at the top shows the cover of the book Hellish Nell: Last of Britain's Witches.

News: Mercury, Wildflowers, Folklore, Witchcraft

"The mythology of Britain’s wildflowers" - story at The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/discover-woodland-trust/2016/apr/06/the-mythology-of-britains-wildflowers

"Mercury's journey across Sun under way" - story at BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36228327

"Radiohead's Burn the Witch may be critique of refugee crisis, says animator" - story at The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/may/05/radioheads-burn-the-witch-may-be-critique-of-refugee-crisis-says-animator

"Bees exposed to more pesticides from contaminated wildflowers nearby treated farms, suggests new data" - story at Farminguk: http://www.farminguk.com/News/Bees-exposed-to-more-pesticides-from-contaminated-wildflowers-nearby-treated-farms-suggests-new-data_39564.html

"Come and join in with witch trials!" - story at Swindon Advertiser: http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/theatre/14472969.Come_and_join_in_with_witch_trials_/

"How a fear of witches and witchcraft dominated rural North Yorkshire life" - story at Gazette and Herald: http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/features/columnists/14454625.How_a_fear_of_witches_and_witchcraft_dominated_rural_North_Yorkshire_life/

News: Paganism, Halloween, Witches and Witchcraft

"10 things about paganism this Halloween season." story on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-things-halloween-paganism-simon-foster

"Jane Wenham play tours Suffolk theatre to reveal why we’re bewitched by our past" - story at East Anglian Daily Times: http://www.eadt.co.uk/what-s-on/jane_wenham_play_tours_suffolk_theatre_to_reveal_why_we_re_bewitched_by_our_past_1_4259636

"Air Force dental technician accused of being a witch" - story at AirForce Times: http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/10/05/air-force-dental-technician-accused-witch/73398304/

"Connecticut’s Hartford witch trials predated the infamous Salem trials" - story at FoxCT: http://foxct.com/2015/10/01/connecticuts-hartford-witch-trials-predated-the-infamous-salem-trials/

Arts: Puccini's La Bohème by English National Opera

As someone who loves the arts, I know there's a gap in my experience - I've never been to the opera. But that's soon going to change because I'm being taken to see Puccini's La Boheme performed by English National Opera as a lovely treat.

To be honest, I'm not really sure why it has taken me so long to see an opera. One of the people who was most influential in my life adored opera - she was the woman who trained me in Wicca and witchcraft. Her name was Maureen Brown and she taught me that magic comes from the heart as much as the mind - she also used to say that opera was the most magical music she knew and would often have opera playing on her stereo when I came round to her house for training evenings.

Although Maureen's favourite aria was Nessun Dorma, from Puccini's Turandot, she also loved La Boheme, which is one of Puccini's most famous operas. I'm really pleased that it is currently on in London and being performed in English.

The ENO website describes it as "one of opera’s greatest love stories". It has been set in 1930s Left Bank Paris - a wonderful meeting place for artists and intellectuals and a melting pot for ideas and creativity, but also the perfect location for a passionate but tragic tale of love.

I think one of the things that put me off going to an opera was my fear that it would be in a language I couldn't understand - although another factor was that I thought tickets might be overly expensive. It's been pointed out to me, however, that the English National Opera puts on English language performances that are designed to be affordable and accessible to everyone. Apparently all ENO performances are sung in English.

The home of English National Opera is the London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ES. The box office number is 020 7845 9300 and the website is http://www.eno.org/. You can find out more about the current performance of La Boheme, which is running until December 6, here: http://www.eno.org/boheme

The YouTube link at the top shows the trailer from ENO's La Boheme

News: Witch Bottle, Witch Signs, Witch Play

"Witch bottle found during Newark Civil War Centre dig" - story at BBC Nottingham: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-29685608

"Halloween – 7 signs you’re probably a witch" - story at the Metro: http://metro.co.uk/2014/10/20/halloween-7-signs-youre-probably-a-witch-4913355/

"Eileen Atkins: ‘Even today there’s a resentment of old people’" - story about the actress cast as the The Witch of Edmonton in the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/oct/18/eileen-atkins-interview-q-and-a-woody-allen-witch-of-edmonton

Review: Father Dagon - Immersive Theatre in London

If you are a fan of HP Lovecraft's tales of the Cthulhu mythosand live in London then you won't want to miss Father Dagon, a play at The Rag Factory, off Brick Lane, until Saturday night. The company performing it, Dread Falls Theatre describes Father Dagon as "combining actors, dancers, musicians and visual artists to create a world in which roaming audiences experience H.P. Lovecraft’s fiction."

I went to see Father Dagon on Wednesday and thought it was so brilliant I couldn't stop thinking about it afterwards. So much so that at night I dreamt I was a cultist who summoned the sea god Dagon to eat all the people who are annoying me at the moment. A highly satisfying dream, although no doubt one I ought to feel more guilty about enjoying so much :)

Dreams in fact form an important part of the play, and the whole thing - conducted in perambulatory theatre style - is like some recurring nightmare from the head of HP Lovecraft. The photo at the top shows the first scene in the drama - the horror author himself in his study, talking about his inspiration for his stories.

I don't want to give away too many spoilers though, as this is a play that needs to be experienced fresh.

Father Dagon is on until 30 August at the Rag Factory; 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ. Start times at 7pm and 9.15pm. Tickets £15/£10 from: http://www.skiddle.com/groups/dreadfallstheatre/events.html

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/07/master-of-horror-resurrected-in.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/god-of-week-dagon.html
Terror of the Cthulhu Mythos
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/steve-ash-on-great-old-ones.html
H. P. Lovecraft: The Complete Collection. (With Accompanying Facts): 62 Short Stories and 5 Novellas.

Police Seek Grail, witch trials and show-biz witches

A round-up of a few news stories:

"Police operation launched after priceless Welsh relic, thought to be the 'Holy Grail' is stolen" - read the story at WalesOnline: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/police-operation-launched-after-welsh-7429798

"Uncover the truth behind Scotland's infamous witch trials" - a look back at history by Scotland Now: http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/uncover-truth-behind-scotlands-infamous-3834588

"Wookey Hole: First stage of £5million revamp open" - story about the lates Wookey Hole Witch tourist attraction on the Western Daily Press website: http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Witch-hole-lot-fun-new-ideas/story-21642162-detail/story.html

"Witch craft casts a spell on those who enter industrial unit" - a story about the costumes for Wicked on the Birmingham Post website: http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/wicked-plays-birmingham-hippodrome-until-7425613

Master of Horror Resurrected in Immersive Theatre Show

The above was the title of a press release I've been sent about an interesting new theatre production inspired by the horror stories of HP Lovecraft. Here is the full text:

Dread Falls Theatre is set to preview their new immersive performance piece, Father Dagon, inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft, the literary figure often cited as being the father of modern horror. The show, written by director Victoria Snaith, will place audience members in a stream of intertwining tales told through the company’s combination of physical storytelling, spoken word, and live music.
Lovecraft said, “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”
Snaith says, “this has been the main inspiration when transferring his work from page to stage. By creating a performance where the audience are free to roam, we have taken away the comfortable space between audience and performer, therefore creating a feeling of unknowing and fear. This will be intensified by using physical storytelling instead of aural, to create an unknown language, much like that of Lovecraft’s creatures.”
The performance will also feature live, improvised music that will accent the actor’s movements, specifically music performed on unusual and homemade instruments, the sounds of which will add to the unfamiliarity of the surroundings for the audience.
Dread Falls Theatre intends to bring awareness of Lovecraft’s writings to the show-goers beyond the stage as well by inviting prominent UK and international gallery artists to display their Lovecraft influenced works in the bar at the venue.
Dread Falls Theatre hopes to expand the work next year to include a larger cast, upgraded set, and longer run. For this preview, Father Dagon will run from the 27th through the 30th of August at East London’s Rag Factory, 16-18 Henegae Street, E1 5LJ. Tickets and more information are available at the Father Dagon event page here: http://www.facebook.com/events/682555195145213.

Review: Amazing Production of Macbeth in a Pub

The Weird Sisters from Shakespeare's Macbeth are probably the most famous witches on stage or screen, so how could I resist going to a production of "The Scottish Play" at a theatre in a pub not far from where I live in South London - The Bridge House Tavern, in Penge, SE20.

I find Shakespeare's portrayal of the witches fascinating. The play was written at a time when witches were feared and persecuted, and the Weird Sisters are described as "secret, black, and midnight hags" chanting "Double, double toil and trouble" as they cast entrails into a bubbling cauldron of poison. Modern-day fluffy little Wiccans they aren't, but they are also not necessarily the true evil-doers of the piece.

It is left ambigious whether the witches merely prophesy the bloody game of thrones that is to come or whether they deliberately set Macbeth on his path of regicide. Various versions of the play that I have seen have portrayed the witches in different ways - in some they seem merely mortal troublemakers, in others they are Otherworldly creatures tempting and teasing a weak-willed mortal man who would be king.

The production at The Bridge House is in some ways a traditional portrayal of cackling hags, yet powerfully acted with minimal set or props. The staging itself is anything but traditional. The theatre is in an upstairs repurposed room at the pub, with seating all around walls that are entirely painted black, as are the floor and ceiling. The audience is very close to the action, which takes place under bright spotlights and it makes for an intense experience. One not to be missed if you live in south east London.

Macbeth at the Bridge House runs until April 19 and tickets are currently available at half price (£8.75) through Lastiminute.com

Note: I sneakily took the photos showing Macbeth and the Weird Sisters without using flash. Photos are not really allowed at the play. There were obviously more than three bad witches present that night :(

Links and previous related posts
http://www.bhtheatre.co.uk/
http://www.bridgehousese20.co.uk/
http://www.lastminute.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/07/bad-witchs-guide-to-bad-witches.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Witches
http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/macbeth/index.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/09/bad-witch-goes-looking-for-wing-of-bat.html

News: Celebrity Witches at Wookie Hole and Manchester

"Wookey Hole witch hangs up her broomstick": Read the full story on The Telegraph website.

"She's a Black Magic Woman: Chelsee Healey dresses in witch-inspired outfit for opening night of Wicked on tour" Read more on the Daily Mail website.

TV: Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth

There was a documentary on BBC 4 last night at 9pm called Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth. In it, classicist Dr Michael Scott looked at Greek drama. Although the main focus was on the role drama played in democracy in Athens, there was also a great deal about its importance as a religious ceremony in the honour of Dionysus, the god of theatre as well as the god of wine.

I found the programme very interesting and you can still see it on BBC iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b039fpnk/

Previous related post
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/03/i-was-teenage-maenad.html

Songs and Stories for the Living and the Dead

Here are some photos I took last Saturday at What Dreams May Come - London Dreamtime’s evening among the tombs, coffins and mosaics of the Greek Corner of West Norwood Cemetery. It was an event to celebrate the living and the dead with music, story-telling, poetry, theatre and art.

The Effras (pictured top) played between the gravestones, Catharine Arnold (author of Necropolis: London and Its Dead,pictured left) read about fears people once had of being buried alive, Vanessa Woolf told stories from the ancient myths of China and Egypt, Nigel of Bermondsey sang and there was plenty more entertainment besides that.

The first of the evening’s performances took place inside the cemetery’s magnificent Greek temple, with a candle-lit tale of mystery and haunting music. Drinks were served on the terrace outside at the interval, and after that the audience were invited to sit on the temple steps and watch the second part of the show outside as the sun set after a gloriously sunny day.

A perambulatory puppet theatre ended the event, as an illuminated pegasus guided everyone safely out of the burial grounds. As emcee Chris Roberts said as we left: “Stick to the paths and beware of open graves.”

There is currently an art trail on at West Norwood Cemetery, until July 27. It is free to visit. West Norwood Cemetery is one of London's Magnificent Seven cemeteries and is in West Norwood, London SE27 9JU. You can find out a bit more about that on my previous post: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/07/pagan-eye-doorway-to-another-world.html

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/07/pagan-eye-doorway-to-another-world.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/10/london-necropolis-victorian-cemetery.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/10/london-necropolis-west-norwood-cemetery.html
http://www.westnorwoodcemetery.com/
http://www.fownc.org/

Images and Reflections of The Thin Veil of London

A thin veil lies between the grey normality of London's streets and the bright, colourful vistas of otherworldly realms - realms that can be reached through madness, magic and the visionary imagination of writers such as Arthur Machen. On Sunday, I took part in an event called The Thin Veil of London, that explored parts of Bloomsbury and Holborn depicted in Machen's tales.

I was going to call The Thin Veil of London a guided walk - but it was more than that. Part perambulatory theatre, part street art, part philosophical debate; it began with a straightforward talk about mad King George. King George III was treated at what is now the National Hospital For Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square. He lived during the 18th century - the Age of Reason - and reason was considered to be the opposite of madness.

The 18th century was also the era of the Romantic Poets, advances in industry, great social change and much debate about the nature of reality. Many of England's influential thinkers from then onwards - scientists, poets, writers and philosophers - lived around London's Bloomsbury district.

It was their words - often the arguments of those with conflicting views - that The Thin Veil of London explored. The walk was led by Robert Kingham, who read excerpts from the books of Arthur Machen and others as well as talking about the varied beliefs, dreams and delusions of those who lived in the area.

Things like madness and sanity, science and magic, or religion and atheism are seen as opposites. Yet the greatest insights can be found on the border where those opposites meet. That Eureka! moment. That is when the thin veil lifts; sometimes to reveal profound wonders, but more often to show terrifying horrors that drive those who see them into madness or death. That, of course, is often the fate of characters in Arthur Machen's tales.

You might have noticed that the photos on this page are oddly coloured - harsh monochrome at the top, unnaturally bright at the bottom and mixture of the two in the image to the left - while the image top right shows the contrast of a lit street lamp on a bright sunny day. I picked and altered the photos in an effort to better get across my impressions from the event. Ordinary pictures of London streets didn't do it justice.

There are still tickets available for other dates over the summer for the Thin Veil of London. For more information, and to book tickets, visit the Minimum Labyrinth website: http://www.minimumlabyrinth.org/the-thin-veil-of-london.html  There is also a companion book available, written by Rich Cochrane and Robert Kingham. It costs £12 and you can order it here: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/thin_veil_of_london

Links and previous related posts
http://www.minimumlabyrinth.org/the-thin-veil-of-london.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/04/walking-into-grey-soul-of-london.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/07/occult-london-goddess-hygia-and-nine.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/psychogeography-by-merlin-coverley.html
The Great God Pan and The Hill of Dreams

This Week's Pagan Events In and Near London

Saturday 9 March; Holistic and Psychic Fair. Venue: Lenham Community Centre, Lenham, Maidstone, Kent ME17 2QT. Time: 2pm-6pm. Tickets £2, children under 14 free. Sales from refreshments, raffle and cake sales will be donated to Pilgrims Hospice. For more details: www.justyoume-events.co.uk

Saturday 9 March; Reading of Rudolph Steiner's Mystery Drama: The Soul's Probation. Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London NW1 6XT. Time: 2pm-6.30pm. Tickets: £3.50/£1, advance booking not necessary. http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/

Sunday 10 March; Treadwells Social Sunday: A chance to socialise with a cup of tea and at 2pm and 4pm Kate McKnight will do a ten-minute reading from Ovid's The MetamorphosesVenue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Shop open from noon. Free social event. info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Monday 11 March; Walking Pisces The Kingston Zodiac with Rosemary and the Limelight Essences. Venue: Cranford Country Park, TW5 9RZ. Meet at St Dunstan’s Church Cranford Park at 12 noon. There is car parking space and the nearest tube station is Hayes and Harlington. Note: this is a challenging walk, wear appropriate footwear. The suggested donation is £10. Please reserve your place on the walk in advance by emailing Rosemary@limelightessences.co.uk

Monday 11 March; Vanatru - A Path Less Travelled. Talk by David Parry at pagan forum Secret Chiefs. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8.30pm. Admission £2. http://secretchiefslondon.wordpress.com/

Monday 11 March; The Angel Whisperer. Talk by Kyle Gray, author of The Angel Whisperer: Incredible Stories of Hope and Love from the Angels.Venue: Alternatives, St. James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LL. Time: 7pm to 8.30pm. Tickets £10/£5 concs. Advance booking essential. To book tickets and for more info visit the Alternatives website: http://www.alternatives.org.uk/Site/Talks.aspx

Tuesday 12 March; Enstatic Dance practice. Weekly class; each session follows a process of physical warmup, themed embodiment practice and a space to explore your own dance through a landscape of music. Open to all with an interest to enjoy and move their body. Venue: Clerkenwellness, 178 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DT. Tuesday evenings from 7pm -9pm.

Tuesday 12 March; UFOs and the Extraterrestrial Message. Talk by Richard Lawrence at the London Forum for the Study of Crop Circles and Other Mysteries Meetup Group. This group meets once a month at the George Pub, 213 Strand, London WC2 1AA. Starts at 7pm. Entrance £8. Details: http://www.meetup.com/The-London-Forum-Meetup-Group/ and http://www.londoncircles.net/

Tuesday 12 March; Academic Psychology and Psychical Research Between the Wars. Lecture by Professor Elizabeth Valentine at the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit, Room LG01, New Academic Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW. Time: 6.10pm. Free event. For more details, visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/apru/speakers/

Wednesday 13 March; Ickenham Moot. Venue: Coach and; Horses, High Road, Ickenham, UB10 8LJ. Nearest tube stations Ickenham & W. Ruislip. Time: 7.30pm start. Monthly moot on the second Wednesday. All welcome. For further details email Gina: brockwitch@yahoo.co.uk

Wednesday 13 March; The First Esoteric Salon With The Barefoot Doctor. Comedian Danny Buckler will be questioning The Barefoot Doctor about Taoist magic, manifestation and music, to show that laughter is the best medicine. Venue: Atlantis Bookshop, 49A Museum Street, City of London, London, WC1A 1LY. Cost: £10. Time: 7pm. To book a place, call Atlantis Bookshop on 020 7405 2120.

Thursday 14 March; The Occult Life of Dennis Wheatley, author of classic occult fiction.Talk by Phil Baker at South East London Folklore Society (SELFS). Venue: The Old King's Head, Kings Head Yard, 45-49 Borough High St, London SE1 1NA. Entry: £2.50 / £1.50 concessions. No need to book in advance. Meetings are the second Thursday of each month. http://www.selfs.org.uk/

Friday; 15 March; Temple of Levanah. An evening meditative circle led by Chris and Vivianne Crowley at Treadwell's Bookshop, in London. Time: 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. Price: £8. Prior booking essential, please email in advance to BMDeosil@aol.com.

Friday 15 March;  A New Science of Emotional Healing. Talk by Sir Tom Lucas at The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm Cost: £8/£12. Advance booking advised. Tel: 020 7589 3292. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Saturday 16 March; Exploring Spring Equinox: Symbolism, Folklore, Custom, Magic. One-day workshop including a full ritual at the end of the day with Suzanne Corbie at Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Tickets £45 (£25 deposit, balance due on the day). Time: 11am to 5.30pm. Booking essential and limited places. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com. www.treadwells-london.com/lectures.asp

Saturday 16 March; Bwunda - dance led by music from all over the world, in a beautiful space, free from smoke and alcohol. This Bwunda event is usually the 3rd Saturday in month, from 7pm - 10pm. Venue: basement, North London Buddhist Centre, 72 Holloway Road, N7. Price £6/£8/£10.

Sunday 17 March; Dawn of the Oak. Pagan moot on the third Sunday of each month. Venue: Upstairs at The Castle, 34-35 Cowcross Road, Farringdon, London EC1M 6DB (near Farringdon tube). Time: 3pm-6pm. For more details contact  peter@dawnoftheoak.co.uk, or Eugenie eugenie@dawnoftheoak.co.uk.

If you want a pagan event listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, please email the details to badwitch1234@gmail.com